Seems like I have thoughts to post on Brandon Belt every few months. Well, here we go again. Coming off the weakest season of his career, many fans have written him off and assume he's on Farhan Zaidi's chopping block, a matter of time until he's traded to make room for.....Buster Posey moving to first base full time? Yeah, probably not!
I'm going to put this as succinctly as possible here: Brandon Belt is close to a lock to start the 2020 season as the Giants starting first baseman. Why do I say this? Well, there is the usual he's in the middle of a big contract. He has a partial no-trade clause which he is likely to be not inclined to waive. There are not that many teams out there who would want him. But those are not the reasons why I think he isn't going anywhere. As reported by Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, between defending his actions when he was employed by the Dodgers and his performance as manager of the Phillies, Gabe Kapler got into some of his thoughts about how to get more out of the Giants roster. Whose name came up first and whose name did he spend the bulk of the discussion on? That's right, none other than Brandon Belt. I did not find his thoughts to be particularly enlightening, but here's the key quote in regard to Belt:
"I've thought a lot about Brandon Belt and specifically what he brings....how impressive it is to watch him take an at-bat, independent of the outcome of the at-bat. He tends to look over pitches and make really good swing-or-don't-swing decisions......I know the power has dropped off a little bit, but taking the things that he does very, very well and highlighting some of those things might lead to some more of that power production."
Now I ask you, does that sound like a manager who is going to lobby Farhan to get rid of Brandon Belt at any cost? No, no it does not! While the statement fails to shed much, if any, light on how Gabe is going to unlock Brandon Belt's power, it sure sounds like Brandon Belt has a big fan in the manager's office, which is why I think he is a near-lock to start 2020 as the Giants starting first baseman.
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How hard is this for Belt? In thr first month of the season, if they shift on you, BUNT the ball to third base. EVERY time. Keep doing it until they no longer shift on you. Also, return the bat waggle to your stance. It was working. You shouldn't have ditched it. That is all.
ReplyDeleteNot that the Giants have ready alternatives, but Belt and Longoria block the corners for anyone aspiring to come up and are financially immovable, Longoria even more than Belt. But who is being blocked? Shaw? Slater? Sandoval (if signed, he was the main 2019 recipient of games at the corners when the "starters" didn't play). No Big Deal.
ReplyDeleteYou have to give up corner production, but, seriously, even if Rendon were signed does it matter to where the Giants finish? Aren't a couple SP's, RP's, and a healthy productive OFer easier to come by and couldn't splurging there add the 10 wins to become a contender.
IMHO, live with what you got, and try to fill the BLACK HOLES left by Bum, Smith, Pillar (small hole), Melancon (yes, he was good for the Giants last year and even better for the Braves), Vogt (good O, weak D), Moronta (BIG ouch), Dyson (little ouch) -- Giants lost close to 8 bWAR on the pitching staff, Rendon isn't going to fix that!
Lots of holes to fill without pining over Belt. Pray for Dickerson's health, this century's rendition of Chris Brown -- effective when able.
And fill the pitching stable!
And now I have to like the Giants of Gabe Kapler a little bit less...
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